Well packer



Aug. 25, 1953 c. c. BROWN f WELL. PACKER 4 sheets-'Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 24, 1951 C. Bro wn C/Cero 11145111.11 IIIIIIIIVDVIIIIIAIIIKIIIIIIAIl IN V EN TOR. m

A T TOR/vf y@ Aug. 25, ,1953 csic. BROWN l -A $49,916.?

wELL-'PACKER' Filed sept. 24, 1951V 4 Smets-sheet 2' M- Z0 a5 z3 26'- 5 v v 55 l i 3 8.

Aug. 25, 1953 c. c. BROWN WELL PACKER Filed Sept. 24, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 C/cero C. Brow/7 JNVENTOR.

ATTOH/VEYJ Aug. 25, 1953v "Filed sept. 24, 1951 I9 ,Co

c. BROWN WELL PACKER A 4 Sheets-'Sheet 4l C/cefo C. Brown INVENTOR..

Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITI-:DA *sT-Ares PATENT OFFICE Application september 24, 1951, seria1N0.24s,o71

14 Claims.

This invention relates to new and provements in well packers.

One object of the invention is to'pfrovide animproved well packer which is particularly adapted for use in dual production Wells and which is constructed so that production from two' diierent producing zones may be conducted-to the surface simultaneously through the usual well casing and well tubing.

Another object is to provide an improved dual production packer which is so arranged that production from either zone may be selectively directed either through the well casing or the well tubing, whereby the tubing may be utilized as the flow conductor for either zone as conditions may require. Y

Another object is to 'provide a well packer of the character described wherein communication between the well tubing may be selectively established with either of the producing zones whereby one zone may be acidized and brought in through the tubing, after which ow from that zone may be directed to the casing so that the tubing may be thereafter utilized to acidize and bring in the second zone.

A further object is to provide a well packer of the cross-over type which may be' actuated at any time to produce either zone through the tubing or through the casing as desired or as dictated by well conditions.

A still further object is to provide a well packer of the cross-over type which is actuated by rotation of the tubing string, with the actuation of the device shifting the positions of various ow ports to direct ow from the producing zones in a desired manner.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a Well packer constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the same disposed within a well bore Ywith the device in a position directing ilow from the upper zone through the well casing and iiow from the lower zone through the well tubing, i

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the well packer actuated to direct ow from the upper zone through the tubingand to direct ow from the lower zone through the well casing,

useful im- ;Fgure 3 is an enlarged view partly in section and partly in elevation of the upper portion of the well packer with its parts in the position of Figure 1,

Figure 3A is a continuation of Figure 3 showing the lower portion of the packer,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the parts of the well packer shifted as illustrated in Figure 2,

Figure 4A is a continuation of Figure 4 showing the lower portion of the device,

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is an exploded view illustrating the particular construction of substantially the lower half of the packer assembly.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 3A.

In the drawings the numeral IU designates a well bore which traverses an upper producing formation A and a lower producing formation B. The usual well casing I I extends through the well bore and has perforations or inlets I2 opposite the formation A with similar provisions or inlets I3 opposite the formation B. A casing head i@ is mounted on the upper end of the casing and has a valved flow'line outlet I5 extending therefrom.

The usual Well tubing I6 extends axially within the casing II and has vits upper end projecting through the casing head. As schematically shown, the tubing I 5 is mounted for rotation within the casing head I 4 and the particular swivel mounting may be of any desired construction. The improved well packer apparatusV generally indicated at P is mounted on the tubing string I6; as will beeXplained and is'adapted to be set within the well casing Il. The well packer apparatus includes a packing assembly I'l which is located above the upper producing formation A so as to seal '01T the annulus between the tubing and casing at a point above said formation. A well packer I8 of any desired construction is adapted to -be set within the well casing I I at a point between the producing formationsv A and-B and is arranged to segregatethe well fluids produced from said formations. The packer I8 isof a type which will permit a central pipe orconductor to slide therethrough.

With the packing assembly il and the packer I8 set within the well casing in the manner illustrated in Figures l and '2, the Well fluids from the upper formation A may flow through the inlets I2 into the space between the packers. Flow from the lower formation B is through the inlets I3 and into the lower end oi a tail pipe or conductor I9 which extends axially through the low" er packer I2 and which is secured to the apparatus P as will be hereinafter described. By means of the apparatus P the ow from the space between packers Ii and I8 may be directed through the apparatus and then upwardly through the well casing to the surface; at such time the flow of iiuids from the lower formation will pass upwardly through the apparatus P and upwardly through the tubing. Upon actuation of the apparatus P flow from the upper formation A may be upwardly through the tubing with ow from the lower formation B being upwardly through the casing.

The construction of the wel1 packer apparatus P is clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 3A and referring to Figure 3, the well tubing I6 (Figure l) is connected to or formed integral with a tubular actuator 20, which actuator is formed with coarse external threads 2| on its outer surface. T-he bore 26a of the actuator is in direct communication with the bore of the tubing. The lower end of the tubular actuator is connected to a coupling 22, which coupling has its lower end connected with an inner pipe 23. This inner pipe extends axially through the entire apparatus P and has an inlet port 24 formed in its lower portion (Figure 3A). An actuating sleeve 25 surrounds the actuator 20 and has coarse internal threads 26 which engage the threads 2| of the actuator. It is preferable that the threads 2| and 26 be left hand threads. As will be expl-ained, when the actuator is rotated with respect to the sleeve 25, the coaction between threads 2| and 26 will cause longitudinal movement of the sleeve relative to the actuator and to the tubing as well as with respect to the inner pipe 23.

The actuating sleeve is provided with a plurality of cross-over slots or openings 2'1 which are disposed at a point intermediate the ends of the sleeve and below the threads 26. The lower end of the sleeve 25 is coupled to an elongate tubular mandrel 28 which surrounds the inner pipe 23 and which provides a support for the packing assembly I1. The mandrel 28 has its lower end terminating short of the lower end of the inner pipe 23 and has a coupling 29 threaded onto this lower end. This coupling has its lower end secured to the tail pipe I9 which extends downwardly through the lower packer |8 which is mounted within the well casing II. The mandrel 23 has a plurality of by-pass openings or slots 30 in its upper end just below its connection with the sleeve 25 and has similar by-pass openings or slots 3| in its lower portion adjacent the coupling 23. It will be evident that flow entering the openings 3| may pass upwardly through the annular space 32 formed between the mandrel 23 and the pipe 23 and may then ow outwardly through the openings 30 at the upper end of the mandrel, thereby by-passing the packing assembly I'I.

Communication between the openings 3| and the annular space 32 is adapted to be shut oi by means of an annular packing 33 which is mounted on the exterior of the inner pipe 23 (Figures 3A and 4A) when the mandrel is moved downwardly relative to the pipe. When the packing 33 is above the openings 3| flow cannot pass from the openings 3| into the annular space 32 between the mandrel and pipe. Instead, the port 24 in the lower end of the inner pipe 23 iS moved into a position above an annular packing 34 mounted in the coupling 29 so that communication is established between the openings 3i and the ports 24, whereby flow may enter the bore 23a of the inner pipe 23. Since this inner pipe is connected through the coupling 22 with the actuator 20, which actuator is, in turn, connected directly to the tubing I6, the flow through ports 3| is thus directed upwardly through the tubing. It will thus be seen that when the apparatus is in the position of Figure 3A ow from the upper producing zone A is through ports 3 I, upwardly through the annular passage 32, ports 30 and into the casing above the packing assembly I'I.

At this time ow from the formation B is upwardly through the tail pipe I9 into the coupling and then throughv ports 24 into the inner pipe from where it passes upwardly through the tubing. Upon a shifting ofthe mandrel downwardly with respect to the inner pipe, the parts inove to the position of Figure 4A, whereby iiow through the ports 3|, which is from the upper formation A, is to the ports 24 and upwardly through the tubing. At this time since the ports 24 in the inner pipe have moved above the packing34, the flow from the lower producing formation which is passing upwardly through the tail pipe cannot enter the inner pipe 23.

For the purpose of crossing over the flow from the lower formation B through the packing apparatus and into the well casing above the Dacking assembly, an axial tube or conductor 35 is disposed Within the inner pipe. This tube has an open lower end and extends through a collar 36 which is threaded into the lower end of the inner pipe 23; a suitable O-ring packing 3'I seals off between the tube or conductor and the collar. The upper end of the tube or conductor 35 is curved radially outwardly and is connected in a radial opening 38 which is formed in the coupling 22 which couples the actuator 2|] to the inner pipe 23. When the mandrel 28 has been shifted downwardly with respect to the inner pipe to establish communication between the openings 3| in the mandrel and the ports 24 in the pipe, as heretofore explained and as shown in Figure 4A, the radial opening 38 in which the upper end of the tube 35 is connected is aligned with the crossover ports 2I which are formed in the actuating sleeve 25 (Figure 4) Thus, the flow from formation B is upwardly through the conductor or tube 35 and then outwardly through the cross-over ports 21 into the well casing above the packing assembly I'I. It is, of course, obvious that when the mandrel 28 is in the position with respect t0 the inner pipe 23 as shown in Figure 3A, the radial opening 36 in which the conductor or tube 35 is connected, is below or misaligned with the cross-over ports 2'I (Figure 3), whereby upward flow through the cross-over tube or conductor 35 cannot occur.

The packing assembly I'I is subject to variation and as shown includes an upper packing cup 40 which surrounds the mandrel 28. A pair of annular packing elements 4| are disposed below the packing cup 40 and are supported upon a retaining ring 42. The retaining ring is provided with radial slots 43 and headed bolts 44 pass through the slots and have their upper ends secured into the segmental base members 40 of the upper packing cup. The retaining ring 42 is connected through a coupling collar 45 with the retaining ring 42a of a lower packing unit. This lower unit is constructed in an identical manner to the upper unit, including annular packing elements 4 la and a packing cup 40a having its sealing lips down- Werdly directed. Bolts `44a extend between the retaining ring 42a and the lower sealing cup 40a being movable within slots 43a in the retaining llllg.

The packing assembly I'I is conned against displacement from the tubular mandrel 28 by a plurality of ribs 46 which are disposed within the bore of the connecting collar 45 and which are adapted to abut the ends of the retaining rings 42 and 42a of the upper and lower packing units of the assembly. The packing units are S0 constructed that the pressure differential acrOSS the assembly is depended upon to set the packer and manipulation of the mandrel to eiect setting is not necessary. It is evident that the pressure from above acting upon the upper packing cup 40 will urge the same downwardly, while pressure from below acting vagainst the lower packing cup 40a will urge the latter upwardly. The pressures thus acting upon the cups 4D and 40a will result in axial force being applied to the annular packing elements 4| and 4|a to distort the same outwardly into sealing position with the well Casing- In the operation the apparatus is assembled as illustrated in Figure 3, and is lowered into the well casing and located therein as shown in Figure 1, The fluid pressures acting upon the cups 40 and 40a of the packing assembly I'l will set or radically expand same to seal off the annulus between the tubing and the casing. The tail pipe |9 which is connected to the lower end of the apparatus extends through the lower packer I8 which is constructed and operates in the same manner as packer I1,

For purposes of illustration it will be assumed that neither of the zones have been acidized to bring in the production and thus, with the parts in the position shown in Figures l, 3 and 3A, the lower Zone B is in communication with the well tubing I6, such communication being established through the inner pipe 23 and the ports 24 thereof. An acidizing operation may be carried out through the well tubing, through the inner pipe 23, and through the tail pipe I9 to the lower zone, whereby this zone of production may be brought in. When flow of well iluids from zone B begins, the tubing I6 may be rotated with respect to the actuating sleeve 25, the latter being r held against rotation because it is connected to the mandrel 28 on which the packing assembly is mounted. The frictional engagement of the sealing cups 4i) and 40a with the casing IIJ and the mandrel 28 prevent rotation of the mandrel 28 and sleeve 25 during rotation of the tubing I6, actuator 20, and inner pipe 23. As the tubing is rotated the coaction between the threads 2| of the actuator and the threads 26 of the sleeve result in said sleeve being moved downwardly with respect to the tubing. Since the sleeve is connected to the mandrel 28 while the actuator 2li is connected to the inner pipe 23, the mandrel will move downwardly with respect to the inner pipe so that the parts assume the position shown in Figures 4 and 4A. In such position the crossover tube is placed in communication with the cross-over ports Z'I in the sleeve 25, and thus the flow from the lower producing zone B may be upwardly through the cross-over tube, cross-over ports 2'! and into the annular space between the well casing I I and the well tubing I 6. The lower zone may thus be produced throughv the well casing.

At the same time that the cross-over of ow CTI 6. from the lower Zone is effected, the shifting of the mandrel 28 with respect to the inner pipe establishes communication between the openings 3| of the mandrel 28 and the ports 24 of the inner pipe 23 whereby communication between the tubing I6 and thc upper zone A is set up. An acidizing operation may then be carried out through the tubing to acidize the upper formation A and bring the production in from this formation. Upon the flow of well iluids from the formation A, said iiuids enter openings 3|, then pass through ports 24 of the inner pipe 23 from where these iluids flow upwardly through the tubing string.

After well fluids are flowing from both formations, the production from either Zone may be directed either through the tubing or the casing. If it is desired to produce the upper zone through the well casing, the tubing I6 is again rotated to return the parts to the position shown in Figures 3 and 3A, In such event now from the upper zone A is through openings 3|, annular space 32 and openings 3U into the well casing. Flow from the lower zone is through ports 24, inner pipe 23 and flow tubing.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a relatively simple apparatus which is controlled in its operation by rotation of the tubing is provided. The apparatus permits selectively directing the flow from either zone through either the tubing or the casing. As has been described, each zone may be independently completed by setting up communication between that zone and the tubing, after which the ilow may be in any desired manner, as conditions require. It might be noted that certain well conditions dictate that production be through the tubing, as for example, where corrosive fluids are being produced; thus, if either zone is producing fluids which are more efliciently produced through the tubing, the present apparatus permits such production. In some instances it might be desirable toI change the iiow after production has been had for a period of time. In other words, if the upper zone is producing through the tubing and the lower zone is producing through the casing, it might be desirable to reverse the arrangement so that the lower zone produces through the tubing. The present apparatus permits such shifting at any time, while the apparatus is within the well casing.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing :from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A well packer including, a well iluid conductor, an inner pipe attached to the well conductor and extending downwardly therefrom, an outer tubular mandrel surrounding said inner pipe with a flow passage formed therebetween, a connection between the upper end of the mandrel and the well uid conductor for imparting longitudinal movement to the mandrel relative to the inner pipe upon a rotation of the conductor with respect to the mandrel, a packing assembly mounted on the mandrel, said mandrel having flow ports which direct now from exteriorly of the mandrel below the packing assembly through said flow passage to the area exteriorly of the mandrel above the packing assembly, said inner pipe having a port and passage for directing now from below the inner pipe to the well conductor, said inner pipe having another port and another passage communicating with a flow port in the mandrel above said packing assembly, said ports and passages in the pipe and said ports in the mandrel being opened and closed in accordance with the relative position of the mandrel longitudinally of the inner pipe.

2. A well packer including, a well tubing, an inner pipe suspended from and communicating with the tubing, an outer tubular mandrel surrounding the inner pipe and connected with the tubing, said mandrel being movable longitudinally of the inner pipe, means for moving said mandrel to two positions relative te said inner pipe, a packing assembly mounted on the mandrel, means establishing communication between the area exteriorly of the mandrel below the packing assembly and the area exteriorly of the mandrel above said assembly when the mandrel is in its first position relative to the inner pipe, and means establishing communication between the area below the inner pipe and the well tubing also when the mandrel is in its rst position, movement of the mandrel to its second position relative to the inner pipe changing the communication establishing means to set up communication between the area exteriorly of the mandrel below the packing assembly and the tubing and at the same time set up communication between the area below the inner pipe and the area exteriorly of the mandrel above the tubing.

3. A well packer as set forth in claim 2, wherein the means for moving the mandrel relative to the inner pipe is a coarse thread connection between the tubing and the mandrel, whereby rotation of the tubing imparts longitudinal movement to the mandrel.

4. A well packer as set forth in claim 2, wherein the means for moving the mandrel relative to the inner pipe is a coarse thread connection between the tubing and the mandrel, whereby rotation of the tubing imparts longitudinal movemerit to the mandrel, and also wherein the packer assembly includes upwardly and downwardly directed packing cups which are moved into sealing engagement by the pressures acting thereagainst.

5. A well packer including, a tubular mandrel, a packing assembly mounted on the exterior of said mandrel, an inner pipe extending axially through said mandrel and having a connection therewith permitting relative movement therebetween, a cross-over tube extending axially through and secured to the inner pipe with an annular space formed between said tube and said pipe, said tube having its upper end terminating adjacent the wall of the mandrel, closure means closing 01T the lower end of Said annular space, means for moving the mandrel and inner pipe relative to each other, said mandrel having a cross-over port adapted to communicate with the cross-over tube when the mandrel is in one position relative to the inner pipe, and means establishing communication between thearea exteriorly of the mandrel below the packing assembly and said annular space above said closure means when the mandrel is in a position establishing communication between the cross-over tube and the cross-over port.

6. A well packer including, a tubular mandrel, a packing assembly mounted on the exterior of said mandrel, an inner pipe extending axially through said mandrel and having a connection therewith permitting relative movement therebetween, a cross-over tube extending axially through and secured to the inner pipe with an annular space formed between said tube and said pipe, said tube having its upper end terminating adjacent the wall of the mandrel, closure means closing off the lower end of said annular space, means for moving the mandrel and inner pipe relative to each other, said mandrel having a cross-over port adapted to communicate with the cross-over tube when the mandrel is in one position relative to the inner pipe, means establishing communication between the area exteriorly of the mandrel below the packing assembly and said annular space above said closure means when the mandrel is in a position establishing communication between the cross-over tube and the crossover port, and sealing means between said mandrel and said inner pipe for closing off communication between the area exteriorly of the mandrel below the packing assembly and said annular space and for setting up a communication between the area exteriorly of the mandrel below the packing assembly upon longitudinal movement of said mandrel relative to said inner pipe and the area exteriorly of the mandrel above said assembly.

'7. A well packer as set forth in claim 5, together with a well tubing connected directly to the inner pipe, and wherein said means for moving the mandrel and inner pipe relative to each other is a coarse thread connection between the well tubing and the mandrel, whereby rotation of the well tubing imparts movement to the mandrel longitudinally with respect to the tubing and inner pipe.

8. A well packer as set forth in claim 6, together with a well tubing connected directly to the inner pipe, and wherein said means for moving the mandrel and inner pipe relative to each other is a coarse thread connection between the well tubing and themandrel, whereby rotation of the well tubing imparts movement to the mandrel longitudinally with respect to the tubing and inner pipe.

9. A well packer including, a tubular mandrel, a packing assembly mounted on the exterior of said mandrel, an inner pipe extending axially through said mandrel and having a connection therewith permitting relative movement therebetween, a cross-over tube extending axially through and secured to the inner pipe with an annular space formed between said tube and said pipe, said tube having its upper end terminating adjacent the wall of the mandrel and its lower end open for admitting fluid from therebelow, closure means closing oi the lower end of said annular space, means for moving the mandrel and inner pipe relative to each other, said mandrel having a cross-over port adapted to be aligned or misaligned with the upper end of the cross-over tube in accordance with the position of the mandrel with respect to the inner pipe, said inner pipe having an inlet port in its lower portion above said closure means and having an outlet at its upper end for communicating with the surface of the well, an internal packing carried by the mandrel for packing off between the exterior of the inner pipe and the bore of the mandrel, the relative movement of the mandrel with respect to the inner pipe positioning said packing either above or below the inlet port in the pipe, said mandrel having an inlet opening in its lower portion above the packing and having an outlet opening in its upper portion above the packing assembly, and an annular packing means secured to the inner pipe for packing off between the inner pipe and mandrel and being adapted to be disposed either above below the inlet port of the mandrel in accordance with the position of the mandrel with respect to the inner pipe.

10. A well packer as set forth in claim 9, together with a well tubing connected directly to the upper end of the inner pipe, and wherein said means for moving the mandrel and inner pipe relative to each other is a coarse left hand connection between the well pipe and the upper end of the mandrel, whereby rotation of the well tubing imparts a movement to the mandrel longitudinally with respect to the tubing and inner pipe.

11. A well packer as set forth in claim 9, together with a well tubing connected directly to the upper end of the inner pipe, and wherein said means for moving the mandrel and inner pipe relative to each other is a coarse left hand connection between the well pipe and the upper end of the mandrel, whereby rotation of the well tubing imparts a movement to the mandrel longitudinally with respect to the tubing and inner pipe, the packing assembly which is mounted on the mandrel comprising an upper packing cup having upwardly directed sealing lips, a lower packing cup having downwardly directed sealing lips, and annular packing elements disposed between the packing cups whereby pressures above and below said packing assembly move the same into packing position.

12. A well packer as set forth in claim 9, wherein the packing assembly comprises an upper packing cup having upwardly directed sealing lips, a lower packing cup having downwardly directed sealing lips, and annular packing elements disposed between the packing cups whereby pressures above and below said packing assembly move the same into packing position,

13. A dual production well packer for use in a well having an upper producing zone and a lower producing zone, said packer including, a mandrel having a packing assembly thereon for packing off between the well tubing and well casing of said well, an inner pipe within the mandrel connected directly to the well tubing, means for moving the mandrel and inner pipe relative to each other, means for establishing communication between the upper producing zone and the well casing, additional means for establishing communication between the upper zone and the well tubing, means for establishing communication between the lower zone and the well casing, additional means for establishing communication between the lower zone and the well tubing and means controlling the various communication-establishing means in accordance with the relative position of the mandrel with respect to the inner pipe, whereby flow from either zone may be directed to either the well casing or tubing as desired.

14. A well packer as set forth in claim 13, wherein said means for moving the mandrel and inner pipe relative to each other is a connection between the well tubing and the mandrel to move the mandrel longitudinally with respect to the tubing and inner pipe upon a rotation of the tubing with respect to said mandrel.

CICERO C. BROWN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,189,703 Burt et a1 Feb. 6, 1940 2,403,987 Lewis July 16, 1946 2,433,942 Works Jan. 6, 1948 2,531,258 Cranll Nov. 21, 1950 

